Perinatal Outcomes Following Intravenous Iron for Treatment of Iron Deficiency With and Without Anemia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine maternal and neonatal outcomes in individuals with iron deficiency receiving antepartum intravenous (IV) iron supplementation, stratified by the degree of anemia. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study of iron-deficient pregnant patients who received at least one IV infusion of iron (iron sucrose, low molecular weight iron dextran [LMWID], or ferric carboxymaltose) during their pregnancy from January 1, 2011 through June 16, 2022. Our primary outcomes included both neonatal composite morbidity and maternal composite morbidity in the context of maternal anemia. RESULTS: Patients who received LMWID had fewer infusion visits, received higher total doses of iron and had a more substantial correction of hemoglobin compared to those who received iron sucrose (p < 0.01). Maternal anemia at the time of admission was not associated with neonatal composite morbidity. However, there was a significant association between anemia status and maternal composite outcome (p = 0.05). Anemia at time of delivery was associated with the likelihood of requiring a blood transfusion (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study reinforces previous findings emphasizing the adverse effects of iron deficiency on maternal health and the role of IV iron in reducing these risks.

The impact of hematology electronic consultations on the management of iron deficiency.

OBJECTIVES: Delays in the evaluation and treatment of iron deficiency can lead to increased disease-related morbidity and mortality. Electronic consultation (e-consult) is a referral modality that allows providers quicker access to recommendations from a specialist based on electronic chart review. While the use of e-consult is expanding in classical hematology, gaps exist in the understanding of patient outcomes related to its use for iron deficiency. METHODS: We randomly selected 200 e-consults and 200 traditional referrals from 3,336 hematology referrals for iron deficiency at a single center. The primary outcomes of the retrospective analysis were: time to completion of the referral, and time to treatment with intravenous iron. Secondary outcomes included recurrence of iron deficiency, need for repeat e-consult, conversion to in-person evaluation, and assessment of whether the etiology of iron deficiency was addressed. RESULTS: E-consults significantly reduced the time from referral to intravenous iron repletion (e-consult, 33 days; traditional referral, 68 days; p < .05). Assessment of the underlying etiology occurred in 70.7% of the e-consult encounters compared to 92.5% of traditional referrals (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight advantages of e-consults in improving care delivery in iron deficiency, and identifying gaps that can be improved through practice standardization to ensure equitable, high-value care.

The role of oral iron in the treatment of adults with iron deficiency.

Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world, affecting over 20% of premenopausal women worldwide. Oral iron supplementation is often the first-line treatment for the acute and chronic management of iron deficiency due to its ease and accessibility. However, there is no consensus on the optimal formulation or dosing strategy, or which patients should be preferentially treated with intravenous iron. Management of iron deficiency is complicated by the hepcidin-ferroportin iron regulatory pathway, which has evolved to prevent iron overload and thereby creates an inherent limit on gastrointestinal iron uptake and efficacy of oral iron. Unabsorbed iron propagates many of the side effects that complicate oral iron use including dyspepsia and constipation, all of which can thus be exacerbated by excessive oral iron doses. Daily low dose and every other day dosing protocols have attempted to bypass this physiologic bottleneck to allow for effective absorption and limit side effects; however, this approach has still resulted in low fractional iron absorption. In the following manuscript, we review the pathophysiology of iron absorption and current evidence for various preparations of oral iron. Lastly, we highlight opportunities for further study to advance the care of individuals affected by iron deficiency.

Association between short interpregnancy interval and placenta accreta spectrum.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of placenta accreta spectrum is increasing in parallel with the growing number of cesarean deliveries performed. A shorter interpregnancy interval following cesarean delivery may prevent adequate scar healing, which could impact the risk of placenta accreta spectrum. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the association between short interpregnancy intervals and placenta accreta spectrum. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients at risk for placenta accreta spectrum at a tertiary academic center between 2002 and 2020. Our cohort was defined as pregnant individuals at risk for placenta accreta spectrum meeting the following criteria: placenta previa with previous cesarean delivery and/or uterine surgery, anterior low-lying placenta with previous cesarean delivery and/or uterine surgery, ≥3 previous cesarean deliveries, or any previous cesarean delivery with sonographic findings suspicious for placenta accreta spectrum. The primary outcome was surgically or histopathologically confirmed placenta accreta spectrum. Short interpregnancy interval was defined as <18 completed months from previous delivery and last menstrual period of the index pregnancy. Univariable analyses were performed with chi-square and Student's t-test, as appropriate, and Kruskal-Wallis for nonparametric variables. The unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios were calculated using multivariate logistic regression models. Covariates were selected if P<.2 in univariable analyses or defined a priori as clinically meaningful. The final models were derived using reverse stepwise selection of variables. We used Stata Statistical Software, version 15 (StataCorp, College Station, TX) to perform descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Of 262 patients at risk of placenta accreta spectrum with complete records, 112 (42.7%) had placenta accreta spectrum. Pregnant individuals with short interpregnancy intervals of <18 months were no more likely than those with optimal interpregnancy intervals to have previa (58% [46/80] vs 46% [84/182]; P=.09) or placenta accreta spectrum (49% [39/80] vs 40% [73/182]; P=.19). Short interpregnancy interval of <18 months was not associated with placenta accreta spectrum (unadjusted odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-1.80). This association did not change when adjusting for previa and number of previous cesarean deliveries (adjusted odds ratio, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.51-2.15). In a secondary analysis, an interpregnancy interval of <12 months was also not associated with placenta accreta spectrum (unadjusted odds ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-1.56; adjusted odds ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-1.27). CONCLUSION: In patients at risk for placenta accreta spectrum, short interpregnancy intervals of <18 months or <12 months were not associated with placenta accreta spectrum, even when controlling for number of previous cesarean deliveries and previa. Short interpregnancy interval is not likely to be an important modifiable independent risk factor for placenta accreta spectrum.

The incidence, complications, and treatment of iron deficiency in pregnancy.

Iron deficiency and/or iron deficiency anemia (IDA) complicate nearly 50% of pregnancies globally, negatively impacting both maternal and fetal outcomes. Iron deficiency can cause a range of symptoms that range from aggravating to debilitating including fatigue, poor quality of life, pagophagia, and restless leg syndrome. Iron deficiency and IDA are also associated with maternal complications including preterm labor, increased rates of cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, and maternal death. Fetal complications include increased rates of low birth weight and small for gestational age newborns. Prenatal maternal anemia has also been associated with autism spectrum disorders in the neonate, although causation is not established. Deficiency in the newborn is associated with compromised memory, processing, and bonding, with some of these deficits persisting into adulthood. Despite the prevalence and consequences associated with iron deficiency in pregnancy, data show that it is routinely undertreated. Due to the physiologic changes of pregnancy, all pregnant individuals should receive oral iron supplementation. However, the bioavailability of oral iron is poor and it is often ineffective at preventing and treating iron deficiency. Likewise, it frequently causes gastrointestinal symptoms that can worsen the quality of life in pregnancy. Intravenous iron formulations administered in a single or multiple dose series are now available. There is increasing data suggesting that newer intravenous formulations are safe and effective in the second and third trimesters and should be strongly considered in pregnant individuals without optimal response to oral iron repletion.